The TV Child-star business hasn't changed much. Hollywood isn't exactly kids' stuff stoday, even for kids. It never was. During the '60's, when I was a hard-working child actress, appearing as a guest star in such series as and I Spy, my life was never my own. We had fun, but we also had adults-producers, agents, casting directors- running our lives. Not to mention those stage moms and dads!

The rewards for today's TV child actors are greater now than in my day, of course. Six-figure incomes are not unusual, especially for the little boy or girl who lands a series. And there are more kids on TV these days than ever before. But are they more talented?

The editors of TV Guide asked me to grade today's crop of child actors, I concluded as you will see, that not many demonstrate star dotential. Quite a few get by on cuteness and ambition alone. But for the average TV Series role,good looks and an ability to follow a simple script and directions can take akid a long way; even to stardom. Here with a report card on today's TV kids - some still tots, some not (The cutoff age was 18.)

Ari Meyers - Role: Emma McArdle, daughter of Kate (Susan Saint James) Student age 18. Overall grade B+. Breakdown: Cuteness A, Talent B, Potential B+.

Comments: Ari, like many child stars, has good looks - the kind that can launch a successful modeling career at age 5, then later generate a recurring role in a top-rated show, as the daughter of a nifty-looking mom. The question that remains is, to what extent can she act? So far neither the show's writers - nor Ari - have let us know. A question mark.